How to sum only positive numbers in excel

To sum only positive numbers in Excel, use the SUMIF function. The SUMIF function adds the values in a range that meet a specific condition.

Steps to sum only positive numbers

1. Select the cell where you want the sum to appear.

2. Enter the formula:

   $=SUMIF(range,">0")$
   

• range is the group of cells you want to check.

• ">0" is the condition, which ensures only numbers greater than zero are summed.

3. Press Enter.

Example

Suppose you have the following values in cells A1 to A5:

Using the formula:

=SUMIF(A1:A5, ">0")

The result will be 32 because only 10, 7, and 15 are summed.

Alternative using SUMPRODUCT

Another method is using SUMPRODUCT:

=SUMPRODUCT((A1:A5>0)*A1:A5)

This multiplies each value by 1 if it is positive, then sums them. The result is the same (32).

Notes

• The SUMIF function works identically on Windows and Mac versions of Excel.

• Negative numbers and zero are ignored in the sum.

• This method is useful when dealing with financial statements, sales reports, or any dataset where only gains or positive contributions need to be totaled.